‘Twas four nights before Christmas, when all through the pool
Not a swimmer was slacking as they finished up school;
Senior banners were hung by the dive boards with care,
In hopes that North Catholic soon would be there;
SV swimmers and divers donned team suits and gear,
While chants and loud team cheers rang through the air;
And Coach Brian with his clipboard, and Coach Jeff in his bun,
Had just fired up their team that was second to none,
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
Parents sprang to the stands to see what was the matter.
Thru the doors burst the Raiders like thunder and lightning,
The roar of their opening cheer sounding quite frightening.
The scoreboard’s red glow on the water’s calm surface
Gave a lustre to the natatorium festive with purpose,
When, what to our wondering eyes should then show,
But a hot tub of six divers ready to go,
With skillful dive coaches so lively and quick,
We all knew for certain the judges’ scores would stick.
More graceful than reindeer the divers they soared,
While Coach Nancy encouraged them out by the boards:
“Now, Maddie! Now, Meghan! Now, Ashley Felitsky!
On, Trevor! on, Matthew! on, Sam Skeen, blitz N-C!
To the end of the board! to the top of the roof!
Let’s show them Raiders’ diving is WPIAL proof!"
As sleek seals that before the wild orcas do reach,
When they feel teeth beneath them, churn toward the beach,
So up to the rooftop the divers they flew,
With their chamois in hand, and a new WPIAL cut too.
And then, in a twinkling, we heard from the deck
The splashing and panting of swimmers neck and neck.
As they drew near the finish and were turning around,
One-two-three the Two Medley Relays came with a bound.
Taking first, second, and third in the next five swim races,
Cuts for Taylor and Renhan, with triumph on faces;
The boys’ Fifty Free was a sight to behold,
Record within his reach, Owen blazed toward the gold.
Brian’s eyes, how they twinkled! Jeff’s dimples, how jolly!
Secure in a win, the Raiders team knew no folly!
Fliers Bella-G-EmKav neatly swept up the floor,
While Danny got his Hundred Free cut - by point-oh-four!
The Five-Hundred Freestyle, a race so well-seeded,
Matt’s new personal best will bring that one-point-four needed.
Emma-Del-Maya battled thru twenty laps,
To take first thru third without losing their caps.
They were muscled and lean, a well-disciplined crew,
And we cheered as they crushed it; the coaches did, too.
One-two-three in the Backstroke, and the same in the Breast,
Proved to one and to all that the Raiders won’t rest;
Captains giving encouragement, support, and high praise,
Filling all with team spirit to light up their days,
And then with their signature “We Are! S-V!” cheer,
The Raiders soon captured their last win of the year.
Coaches sprang to the deck, to their team gave a whistle,
And away SV flew to Win Three, like a missile.
And we heard them exclaim as they did belly flops,
SV SWIM AND DIVE TEAM IS THE BEST – CAN’T BE STOPPED!
Verse structure and metrics modeled after a well-known favorite poem – and some phrases borrowed verbatim without permission! - by Lisa Zucco, SV Swim Mom